Registering mechanism for form or plate cylinders of multicolorprinting machines



nsmsrskms MECHANISM FOR FORM F. C. MARQUARDT.

0R PLATE CYLINDERS 0F MULIICOLOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, I9I8.

Patented J an. 27, I920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

, D i is w HO I; t I I'm I I m $1 I j l I I Q M I, III I I, III I VENTOR.

'4; ATTORNEY,

F. CIMARQUARDT.

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR FORM 0R PLATE CYLINDERS 0F MULTICOLOII PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, I918.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H u Q I s i Q\\ l I a .I g IL! I & fi. l)

' E ,4 ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR FORM OR PLATE CYLINDERS OF MULTICOLOR- PRINTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed May 18, 1918. Serial No. 235,330.

for Form or Plate Cylinders, of Multicolor- Printing-hlachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form apart thereof. I

The invention relates to registering mechanisms for form or plate cylinders of multicolor printing machines and more particularly to a mechanism by means of whiclrany cylinder may be adjusted circumferentially thereof to secure accurate register of the design on the plate upon said cylinder, with the design on the plate upon another cylin der, or other cylinders, so as to secure accuracy in the register of the different colors upon the print.

- Heretofore', it has been the common practice, when the design. has been collected upon an offset cylinder, to drive the various plate cylinders of a multicolor printing machine, by means of a planetary gearsystem, or by means of a gear strain when succeeding impressions have been made directly upon a sheet, by means of platesupon the form cylindersof a sequence of printing couples. In either form of press, great difficulty has always been experienced in securing a proper register of the designs on the plates upon different form cylinders.

A structure commonly employed for permitting relative adjustment of the different plates involves the use of a cylinder mounted to have rotary movement independently of its driving gear, and connected therewith by means of segmental slots in one of these members and cooperating bolts carried by the other member. The adjustment of the cylinder is secured by loosening the bolts, and turning the form cylinder by I hand sufliciently to bring the design thereon to the desired position, the boltsbeing then reset to preserve this adjustment. This structure does not permit positive, minute adjustment of the form cylinder with relation to its gear; and, when the desired adjustment has, been secured, there is --likelihood'of a loss of adjustment when resetting No lost motion the bolts connecting the form cylinder and its gear. j

Wlth a registering mechanism for a form or plate cylinder made in accordance with my invention, it is not only possible to secure minute adjustment of a cylinder, but at all times the cylinder and the gear are operatively connected so that when the adustment is once secured, this adjustment is permanent. The adjusting mechanism is so constructed that it may be used with equal facility to turnthe cylinder in eitherdirection, the operative elfect being the same irrespective of the direction of movement of this cylinder.

can exist, or develop, in the actuation of theadjusting mechanism, thus insuring a permanent substantially rigid connection between the form cylinder and its driving gear, which cannot become loose as the result of vibration resulting from the operation of the machine.

The registering mechanism is so constructed as to be capable of securing practically a micrometrical adjustment of a form cylinder without requiring nicety in the proportioning, or finish, of the parts of the mechanism, or of any great accuracy in assembling the coordinate parts of the mechanism in the machine structure. Furthermore, the entire mechanism may be incorporated 1n each form cylinder in a manner to avoid possible interference of parts, and

any complexity in the design of the machine.

The invention consists primarily in' a registering mechanism for a form or plate cylinder for multicolor printing machines embodying therein the combination with a form or plate cylinder and a driving gear therefor, capable of relatively independent rotation about the same axis, of adjusting means for said form cylinder embodying therein a plurality of studs carried by one of said members, and a reciprocatory memher having a wedge'like surface engaging each of saidstuds, and carried by the other member, said reciprocatory member being provided with means. whereby it may be actuated, whereby. power is applied .to said cylinder by said gear torotate said cylinder in unison therewith, and rotary movement may be imparted to said cylinder independently of said gear; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view partly in elevation and partly in section, of a form or plate cylinder embodying the registering mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and y Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of :Fig'. 2.

Like letters refer to like the several views.

Inthe embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, (1 indicates an ordinary form or plate cylinder, the construction of which will. vary according to the nature of the press upon which. it is used. In the accompanying drawings, this cylinder is adapted to receivea plate for impressing an ink design upon an offset cylinder .(not

parts throughout shown) and has a send-cylindrical bearing surface/to receive the plate. The said cyl- .inder is provided with a plurality of suitable reinforcing spokes b, disks or end plates '0c--being bolted'to spokesso as to rotate withisaid cylinder. The cylinder 4 is mounted inthe machine frame by means of the arbors d-d adjacent one of which as cl is a hub upon which the driving gear g is idly mounted. By'this construction, the gear 9 and cylinder ct are capable of relatively independent rotation, and the cylinder may receive circumferential move ment independently of said gear.

In order to permit the transmission of powerfrom the gear 9 tothecylinder a, it is essential to provide operative connections by means of'which power may be applied by said gear to the said cylinder, and in. a cylinder structure made in accordance with myinvention, I utilize said connections not only for the purpose of transmitting power, from said gear to said cylinder, but for imparting circumferential movement to said cylinder independently of said gear for the purpose of varying the position. of the plate with relation to the plate upon another, or fother cylinders, in order to secure accurate register of the design on 'theplate carried thereby and the designs on a plate, or'plates, carried by another, or other, cylindersincorporated in such machines.

'In theform of the invention shown, this means comprises cooperating'members carriedby and. rotatable with the form cylinder and"carried by and rotatable with the driving-gear therefor respectively. f Tl'lQSe anembe s.:-;c06peraite 'with each otherto transmit p'owerzfrom 5 said gear to said cylinder,- and one'rofsaidr-members may be adjusted with relation to the other, its movement resulting :the.-circurnfemntial movement of "the form cylinder since the gear by reason of A portion'of this'screw is provided with suitable means as the hexagonal portlolr y' to facilitate its rotation by means of a Wrench or other suitable tool to move it in a direction tangential to the path of rotation of'the cylinder it. Said screw 2' cooperates with the studs ]c']t" carried by the gear g, which studs pass'through segmental openlngs area -c throughthe plate 0, so

as to come'within the operative range of the conical ends j-j of the screw i.

'The screw '5 has a fine pitch so as to per- I mit a minimum longitudinal. movement of the screw, the conical ends forming a continuous circular wedglng surface operative upon the studs lc lc.

The screw being positioned close to the plate c will not interfere with the clamping mechanism for securing the plate upon the cylinder a, while the open portion of the cylinder adjacent the counterweight iz/will permit ready access to the screw with a spanner wrench, orother suitable tool.

The studs lc/c respectively are provided with a rotatable bushing 72?. to minimize wear thereon and on the screw ends j; and facilitatethe actuation of the screw Theoperation-of the herein described device is substantially asfOllowsz- Under normal conditions the conical ends 7'-j of the'screwi are in contact with the studs /c/r;" carried by the gear 7 so that to all intents and purposes, the cylinder (1. through the counterweight h is rigidly connected with said gear 9 without possibility of there being a y lost motion. The studs 76 7s are both arranged at'the same radial distance from the axis of the cylinder a and sincethe screw' is tangential to a circle of smaller radius about the same .axis, this relation may he readily secured by properlyfproportioning the length of said screw. 1 c

If it 'be found during the make-ready of a'g'press that th p latei upon "any" der' is out'of register;'it i'sfiner y e'cessar to turn pf'the 1 in er'cai' plate"whichfis out ofzr gi rj' in w er (1L rectio'n 'cc'ordingto the necessity .forim paras-mates 1w .crlinid necessary direction to bring the plate into register. With the rotation of said screw 2', the conical end j or y" thereof cooperating respectively with the stud k or 70 will impart very slight movement to the cylinder, the recession of one of the conical portions of said screw from its stud simultaneously with the advance of the other conical end 3 toward its stud, permitting this adjustment of the cylinder without disturbing the normal operative driving relation between the gear and the cylinder. Of course, it is essential in making this adjustment, that the machine be stopped. By properly determining the angle of the face of the conical ends of the screw, practically micrometrical adjustment of theform cylinder may be secured with threads of fairly coarse pitch.

- During the make-ready of a press and in preparing the plates, approximate accuracy in the positioning of the portions of the de sign upon different plates can. be secured;

but, particularly with high grade work, ah

solute accuracy of register is necessary. By using an adjustable member such as the screw z having conical ends j-j bearing against and overhanging the cooperating studs ]676' respectively, I secure a reducing mechanism. operative upon said studs, the

ratio of reduction being determined by the relatlve pitch of the threads upon the screw 71 and of the sides of the conical ends j 7". Hence, with the rotation of the screw 5,. the

quantity of movement of the cylinder is determined not by the lineal movement of this screw, but by the operative effect of the wedge formed by the ends jj with this given quantity of lineal traverse.

At all times, the ends jj of the screw z' engage the studs -70 respectively, the movement of said screw in either direction imparting circumferential movement to the cylinder without disturbing this permanent relation of parts since if the end j is advanced axially toward the axis of the stud la, the end 7" will recede from the axis of the stud is to the same extent, the movement of the cylinder as a result of the actuation of this screw being such as to cause the end j to move away from the axis of the stud 7c and the end y" to move toward the axis of the stud 7c" in a manner to insure continuous engagement of both studs with said screw. The same condition prevails if the screw 11 be moved axially toward the axis of the stud 70 there being, however, a reversal of direction of movement of the cylinder and of the screw carried thereby.

In the form of the invention shown, the axial movement of the screw i will, through engagement with one of the studs 7; or is and the resultant circumferential'movement of the cylinder, increase the distance between the axis of said screw and the axis of that stud against which the screw is thrust, and

decrease the distance between the axis of said screw and the axis of the other stud.

In the accompanying drawings and description I referred to the studs 10-70 as being carried by the gear 9 and the screw i as being carried by the plate cylinder. It is apparent, however, that this relation of parts might be reversed without varying the operative effect of theadjusting mechanism, it being merely necessary that the platecarrying member and the member for applying power thereto, be connected by studs carried by one of these members anda colrgperating screw carried by the other mem- While I have described the registering mechanism as being particularly adapted for use in multicolor printing machines having a plurality of cylinders, it is apparent that this mechanism may be employed for securing circumferential register of the plate in relation to the sheet feeding mechanisms of other types of presses.

In the accompanying drawingsthe gear f isthe driving gear for the inking mechanism and is immaterial to the present invention. I i i w It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied with-- out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and I desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A registering mechanism for a form or plate cylinder for multicolor printing machines, embodying therein' in combination with a plate-carrying member and a member for applying power thereto, said members being capable of independent rotary move ment about the same axis, of an adjusting mechanism for said plate-carrying member, comprising two studs carried by one of said members and an adjustable screw threaded member carried by the other member and having conical ends engaging said studs, whereby power is applied to said plate-carrying member by said power member to rotate said members in unison, and said platecarrying member may be turned independently of said power member.

2. A registering mechanism for a form or plate cylinder for multicolor printing machines, embodying therein in combination with a plate carrying member and a member for applying power thereto, said members being capable of independent rotary movement about the same axis, of a plurality of studs carried by one of said members, and a reciprocatory member having a wedgelike surface engaging each of said studs carried by the other member, said reciprocatory member being provided with means whereby it maybe actuated, wherebypower is applied 'tosaid pl atemarrying member'by said power inembertovrotate -;said members in w unison; andsaid plate-carrying'membermay 5 gefturned-independentlyof said power'mem- 3. -A' registering mechanism for a form or I plate cylinder for multicolor printing *machines, embodying therein in combination with a pl'ate-carrying member and amember for :applying power thereto, said 1 members :bein g capable of independent "rotary inovem'ent: about the-same axis, ofa' plurality of studs carried byxoneoffsaid members atthe same radial distance from the axis of rota- 1 tion "thereof, a-reciprooatory member extending tangentially ofa'circle about said axis, but at a lesser radius than said studs opposite-ends of said-member havingwedgelike surfaces "engaging said studs respectively, and meanswhereby said reciprocatory member may be actuated, whereby power is applied to said plate-carrying memberby said power member, and said platecarrying member-may be turned independently of said p'ower member.

4:. A registering mechanism for a-form or plate cylinder for multicolor printing machines, embodying"therein in combination with a=form or plate cylinder and a driving gear therefor, said cylinder and said gear being capable of relatively independent rotation about the same axis, =and'saidcylinder having-a reduced counterweighted porti'on atoneside thereof,-of adjusting means for said form or plate'eylinder, embodying 7 ear.

' 5. A registerlng mechanism for a form or partedto said cylinder independently of sai plate cylinder for multicolor printing 'm'achines, embodying therein incon'ibination with a form or plate cylinder having an end plate provided with openings therethrough,

said 'cyli nder and said gear being capable of relatively independent rotation 1 about 'the -s'ameaXi's,-of a plurality of-studs carried by said gear 'and proj ecting*tl1ough the openings "in said- 'en'dpla'te, and a" screw adjust- -ably mounted infsaid "counterweight, and having 'conical ends engagingsajid studs respectively, whereby power 'isa'pplied to; said cylinder by said gear to rotate said cylinder in unison therewith, androtary "movement may be; impartedtof saidcylinder "independently'jof said'fgear. H A v H jI 'witness whereof I'haveihereunto affixed my signature this Qnd' day. of "IT9I8,-in the' presence foftWo subscribing "witnesses.

' FRANK M QUARDT. WVitn'essesi D I" g CARY, I Epw m L 5 H and acounterweighte'd portion intermediate said openings, and a driving g'earftherefor, 

